Wedge flow meter with conditioner

Abstract

A primary flow measuring element comprising a cylindrical body having an axis and an interior surface defining a fluid flow path and having at least one differential pressure producing segmental wedge attached to the interior surface of the cylindrical body with high and low pressure sensing ports disposed in said cylindrical body on the upstream and downstream sides of the at least one segmental wedge respectively and having at least one conditioning segmental wedge attached to the interior surface of the cylindrical body at a position upstream from the at least one differential pressure producing segmental wedge.

1. A primary flow measurement element comprising,
 a cylindrical body having an axis and an interior surface defining a flow path, 
 at least one differential pressure producing segmental wedge attached to the interior surface of the cylindrical body, 
 said at least one differential pressure producing segmental wedge having a solid structure, 
 high and low pressure sensing ports disposed in said cylindrical body on the upstream and downstream sides of the at least one segmental wedge respectively, 
 at least one conditioning segmental wedge attached to the interior surface of the cylindrical body at a position upstream from the at least one differential pressure producing segmental wedge 
 said at least one conditioning segmental wedge having a solid structure. 
 
   
   
     2. The primary flow element of  claim 1  where the at least one differential pressure producing segmental wedge comprises first and second segmental wedges circumferentially spaced 180° apart. 
   
   
     3. The primary flow element of  claim 2  where the at least one conditioning segmental wedge comprises first aligned upstream and downstream segmental wedges axially spaced apart and having a common axial profile with the first differential pressure producing wedge. 
   
   
     4. The primary flow element of  claim 3  where the high pressure port is disposed between the first downstream conditioning segmental wedge and the first differential pressure producing segmental wedge. 
   
   
     5. The primary flow element of  claim 3  where the high pressure port is disposed between the first upstream and downstream conditioning segmental wedges. 
   
   
     6. The primary flow element of  claim 3  where the high pressure port is disposed upstream of the first upstream conditioning segmental wedge. 
   
   
     7. The primary flow element of  claim 2  where the at least one conditioning segmental wedge comprises second aligned upstream and downstream segmental wedges axially spaced apart and having a common axial profile with the second differential pressure producing wedge. 
   
   
     8. The primary flow element of  claim 7  where the first and second aligned upstream and downstream conditioning segmental wedges are diametrically aligned. 
   
   
     9. The primary flow element of  claim 7  where the first and second aligned upstream and downstream conditioning segmental wedges are diametrically misaligned. 
   
   
     10. The primary flow element of  claim 1  where the at least one conditioning segmental wedge comprises first and second diametrically opposed segmental wedges and second diametrically opposed segmental wedges circumferentially oriented 90° to said first diametrically opposed segmental wedges.